Friction catch



June 30, 1942. B. o. SIEGFUS FRICTION CATCH Filed May 29, 1940 fieizedzd 0. Sz'qyfas ATTORNEYS Patented June 30, 1942 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE 2,288,145 FRICTION CATCH Benedict 0. Siegfus, Bakersfield, Calif. Application May 29,1940, Serial No. 337,910

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in friction catches primarily designed for use with doors, cupboards, blinds, and other analogous uses.

The primary object of the invention resides in the provision of a friction catch having as its principle moving part a flexible member, one end of which is loosely mounted within a casing or similar support, the other end of said member having attached thereto a catch head which is freely confined within the casing or support and is adapted for engagement with a part of the door jamb or the like.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a friction catch having the above characteristics in which the flexible member and catch head will become distorted within the casing, or other. support, without becoming dislodged therefrom when opening or closing the swinging member to which it is attached.

More definitely stated, assuming that the friction catch is mounted within a door, or its equivalent, when the door is in a closed position, said catch will maintain said door closed by reason of the catch head being in engagement with a striker or recess formed in the door jamb. However, when exerting a slight pressure on the door, the catch head will be displaced effecting a flexing of the flexible member to compensate for proper movement of the catch head to displace the same from the door jamb permitting the door to be opened.

The invention will be fully and comprehensively understood from a consideration of the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing which forms a part of the application.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the improved friction catch in use in a door, said door being shown in its closed position.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to Figure l but illustrating the position of the friction catch when opening the door.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the friction catch removed from the door and illustrating the position of the flexible member and catch head when moving the door to closed position.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through the friction catch.

Figure 5 is an end elevational View thereof.

form of casing to be employed with the tion catch.

Referring to the drawing for a more detailed description thereof, the improved friction catch is generally designated in the several views by the reference numeral 8, and in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing the same is shown in use with a door 9 adapted to swing in one direction only. It is to be understood, however, that the improved catch is capable of use with doors adapted to swing in either direction. The friction catch 8 latches the door 9 to the door jamb l0 while permitting the same to be readily released therefricfrom by the exertion of outward pressure on Figure 6 is a perspective view of a modified 5 the door to release the catch from the door jamb as will be hereinafter more apparent.

The friction catch 8 includes a substantially cylindrical-shaped casing ll adapted to be mounted within a recess [2 formed in the door 9. The catch head [4 normally projects through an opening [5 formed in one end of the casing I I, said catch head being preferably formed with opposed bevelled or convex faces IS. The catch head [4 is suitably mounted on one end of a flexible leaf spring I! and is centrally supported within the casing H. The end of the casing opposite the opening I5 is formed with a V-shaped notch l8, the other end of the leaf spring I! being frictionally held therein. The leaf spring I! being readily flexible will be arched to the position shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawing upon opening and closing the door, respectively. The catch head I4 is free of any connection with the casing ll except through the medium of the spring ll, said head being additionally held within the casing- H by means of the collar 19 formed integral with the casing and which surrounds the opening I5. As afore indicated, the catch head is formed with opposed bevelled or convex faces and the rear face of said catch head is formed with an annular member 20 adapted for engagement with the inner face of the collar I9 thereby preventing release of the catch head from the casing. As is readily apparent, the annular member 20 is substantially less in diameter than the casing cess and when opening the door 9 the catch head comes in contact with the lip and further movement of the door urges the catch head back into the casing effecting a flexing of the Spring IT in the manner shown in Figure 2 of the drawing. The rear end of the spring II, will of course, be confined within the notch [8. As soon as the door has passed beyond the plate 22 so that the catch head is out of engagement therewith, the spring I! will return to its normal position and simultaneously therewith urge the catch head to its normal position through the opening l5. This operation is substantially reversed when closing the door, the position of the spring I! and catch head [4 when contacting the plate 22 upon closing the door is shown in Figure 3 of the drawing.

Thus it will be seen that there has been provided a friction catch that will effectively retain a door or the like in a closed but unlocked psition while permitting release of the door upon the exertion of a slight pressure thereon. The friction catch is simple in construction, relative- 1y inexpensive to manufacture and consists of a minimum number of parts thereby precluding the possibility of damage due to constant usage.

In Figure 6 of the drawing there is shown a modified form of casing and it will be noted that said casing, designated by the reference numeral 24, is substantially rectangular-shaped, the upper end of the side walls thereof being formed with ears 25 for attaching the same to the face of the door with which it is to be used. As in the preferred form, the catch head 26 is attached to one end of a leaf spring 21, the other end of said spring being disposed within a notch formed in the end wall of the casing. The catch head 26 projects through an opening formed in the other end wall of the casing.

While the friction catch has been illustrated and described as being installed within the door and the striker plate attached to the door jamb, it is to be understood that the mounting of these parts can be reversed when occasion demands. That is, the friction catch can be installed in the door jamb with the striker plate mounted in the door.

Also it will be understood, of course, by those skilled in the art that variations in the hereinabove described device involving the substitution of substantial equivalents for the devices described are intended to be comprehended within the spirit of the present invention and that the invention is capable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showing of the drawing nor to the precise construction described and, therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therein as do not affect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope thereof as expressed in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a friction catch of the character described, a casing having an opening in the front end thereof and a notch in the rear wall thereof, a tapered catch head extending through and protruding from the opening in the front wall of the casing, and a leaf spring having one end rigidly secured to the catch head and the opposite end fitted in the said notch, the said spring being disposed to normally assume an approximately straight line position extending straight through the casing when the head is in disengaged latching position and to flex to arcuately bowed formation at either side of the normal position when the head is depressed.

2. In a friction catch of the character described, a casing adapted to be mounted within a door, the said casing having an opening formed in its outer end and a V-shaped depression in its inner end, a tapered catch head extending through the opening in the outer end of the casing having an enlarged base portion which limits the outward extension of the head, the said head having an outer tapered portion having converging beveled faces, and a fiat leaf spring having one end rigidly secured to the catch head and the opposite end fitted in the V-shaped depression, the said spring being adapted to assume an approximately straight position in the casing when the head is in fully extended position and yieldable to assume arcuate flexed formation when the said head is turned and retracted upon opening or closing movement of the door.

BENEDICT O. SIEGFUS. 

